The Regulation of TGFβ1 Induced Fibronectin EDA Exon Alternative Splicing in Human Renal Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells.

The EDA+ splice variant of fibronectin (Fn) is an early and important component of the extracellular matrix in renal fibrosis. In this work, we investigate cellular mechanisms of EDA+Fn production in human primary proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). TGFβ1-induced EDA+Fn production was assessed by immunocytochemistry, PCR, and Western blotting.

TGF-beta activates ERK5 in human renal epithelial cells.

The role of the MAP kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) remains unknown, however it is involved in cell differentiation and survival as highlighted by the embryonic lethality of the ERK5 knockout. ERK5 can be activated by growth factors and other extracellular signals. TGF-beta, a powerful controller of epithelial cell phenotype, is known to activate the MAP kinase, ERK1/2 however its effect on ERK5 remains unknown.

A practical method of measuring glomerular filtration rate by iohexol clearance using dried capillary blood spots.

Background: Exogenous tracer-based methods of measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are difficult to perform, whilst creatinine-based estimation formulae are inaccurate.

Methods: We assessed a new technique of measuring iohexol clearance using timed dried capillary blood spots. A reference GFR was measured in 81 subjects (GFR 15-124 ml/min/1.

The TGFbeta1-induced fibronectin in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells is p38 MAP kinase dependent and Smad independent.

Background/aim: Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta1) is a fibrokine implicated in the progression of renal fibrosis. Following TGFbeta1 receptor activation, a number of signalling pathways are stimulated. This study investigates the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and Smad pathways in the TGFbeta1-induced fibronectin (FN) production.